Illuminated toy projectile

ABSTRACT

A toy projectile for firing from a toy gun includes a body, a battery located within the body, a light emitter and a sensor adapted to trigger a provision of electrical energy from the battery to the light emitter upon firing from the toy gun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to soft projectiles for firing from toyguns. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relatesto soft projectiles that can be seen in the dark in flight.

It is known to fire soft projectiles from toy guns. Children can enjoyfiring soft projectiles and the projectiles can be observed throughouttheir trajectory under good lighting conditions. At night time, or whenplaying in low light conditions, it is not easy to see the projectilesin flight or to locate the landed projectiles for retrieval and reuse.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generallyto provide a soft projectile which provides a kind of “tracer bulleteffect” during trajectory and which is easily located in low lightconditions once landed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a toy projectile comprising:

-   -   a body;    -   a battery located within the body;    -   a light emitter; and    -   a sensor adapted to trigger a provision of electrical energy        from the battery to the light emitter upon acceleration of the        projectile.

Preferably, the body is light-transmissive and wherein the light emitteris located internally of the body and illuminates the body internally.

Preferably, the body is of soft tubular form having a hollow cavitywithin which the light emitter is located.

Preferably, the body is soft and has a hollow cavity, and furthercomprises a battery compartment located within the hollow cavity andhousing the battery.

Preferably, the battery compartment comprises a PCB upon which the lightemitter is mounted.

Preferably, the PCB comprises positive and negative electricalconnections each connected to a respective pole of the battery to form acircuit therewith.

The battery compartment might further comprises a contact terminalconnecting one pole of the battery to one of the electrical connectionsof the PCB via a wire or other electrical conduit, and an electricallyconductive spring connecting the other pole of the battery to the otherelectrical connection of the PCB.

The sensor adaptation can be provided in that the battery moves underits own inertia within the battery compartment against the spring withwhich it maintains contact and in that the contact terminal momentarilydisengages from said one pole of the battery to momentarily open saidcircuit.

Preferably, the PCB comprises timing circuitry to provide power to thelight emitter for a finite duration and wherein said duration commencesupon closing of said momentarily open circuit.

The PCB can comprise timing circuitry to provide power to the lightemitter for a finite duration and said sensor adaptation can be providedin that the battery moves within the battery compartment under its owninertia against the spring and in that the PCB further comprises acontact pin with which the battery momentarily engages to initiate saidprovision of power.

Preferably, the contact terminal is spring biased against said one poleof the battery so as not to electrically disengage therefrom.

The projectile can further comprise an electrically conductive springengaging the battery for conducting current from the battery to thelight emitter, and further comprising a contact terminal for completinga circuit between the battery and the light emitter, and wherein saidsensor adaptation is provided in that the battery moves in use under itsown inertia against the spring with which it maintains electricalcontact and in that the contact terminal engages with and disengagesfrom the battery to make and break said circuit.

The projectile can further comprise a timing circuit, and anelectrically conductive spring engages the battery for conductingcurrent from the battery to the light emitter for a duration set by thetiming circuit, the projectile further comprising a contact terminal,and wherein said sensor adaptation is provided in that the battery movesin use under its own inertia against the spring with which it maintainselectrical contact and in that the contact terminal engages with anddisengages from the battery to trigger the timing circuit.

There is further disclosed herein a toy projectile for firing from a toygun, comprising:

-   -   a body;    -   a battery located within the body;    -   a light emitter; and    -   a sensor adapted to cooperate with the toy gun to trigger a        provision of electrical energy from the battery to the light        emitter upon firing from the toy gun.

The sensor can comprise a mechanical switch that bears against a part ofthe toy gun when the projectile is loaded in the toy gun.

Preferably, the mechanical switch comprises a push-OFF microswitchadapted to release to an ON position upon disengagement from said part.

There is further disclosed herein a combination of the above projectileand a toy gun comprising said part engaging with said mechanical switch.

Preferably, said part comprises an air nozzle extending into theprojectile.

The sensor can comprise an air pressure switch configured to receive anair blast from the toy gun.

There is further disclosed herein a combination of the above projectileand a toy gun comprising said part and in which said part comprises anair nozzle extending into the projectile adjacent to the air pressureswitch.

Alternatively, the sensor can comprise a magnetic switch which passesthrough a magnetic field provided by the toy gun.

There is further disclosed herein a combination of the above projectileand a toy gun comprising a magnet creating a magnetic field throughwhich the projectile must pass when fired from the toy gun.

DEFINITION

As used herein, the word “battery” is intended to mean one or morebatteries connected in series or parallel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a soft toy projectile;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation of the soft toy projectile of FIG.1 with a battery-powered LED located internally thereof;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of a batterycompartment;

FIG. 4A is a schematic side elevation of the projectile showing thebatteries within the battery compartment at rest prior to firing;

FIG. 4B is a schematic side elevation of the projectile showing thebatteries moving backward relative to the battery compartment at firing;

FIG. 4C is a schematic side elevation of the projectile showing thebatteries moving forward relative to the battery compartment underspring force after firing;

FIG. 4D is a schematic side elevation of the projectile showing thebatteries coming into contact with a contact terminal under spring forceduring trajectory;

FIG. 4E is a schematic side elevation of the projectile showing thebatteries at rest against the contact terminal;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic side elevations of a battery compartmenthaving an alternative internal construction.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of an alternativeprojectile;

FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the projectile ofFIG. 6 mounted upon an air nozzle of a toy gun;

FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the projectile ofFIG. 6 commencing movement away from the air nozzle;

FIG. 7C is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the projectile intrajectory away from the air nozzle;

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation of a further alternative projectile—inthis case having a magnetic sensor switch; and

FIGS. 9A to 9D are schematic cross-sectional elevations of a toy gunbarrel flanked by a pair of permanent magnets creating a magnetic fieldacross the gun barrel and also depicting the projectile of FIG. 8 atvarious positions along the gun barrel before and after firing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 to 4(A to E) of the accompanying drawings there is depictedschematically a projectile 10 comprising a soft tubular foam body 11.Body 11 is cylindrical in form and comprises a hollow cavity 12. Thebody 11 is made of light-transmissive material which is typicallytranslucent. At the forward end of the body 11, there is a plastics head13 having a suction cup 14. These are typically made of flexibleplastics or rubber. Within the head 13, there is provided a plasticsdisc 15 which serves to secure a glue joint between the soft head 13 andthe foam body 11. There is a battery compartment space 16 immediatelybehind the plastics disc 15.

The battery compartment space receives a battery compartment 17. Thebattery compartment 17 is generally cylindrical in form and is madetypically in plastics or other electrically non-conductive material. Adisc-shaped PCB 20 closes an end of the battery compartment 17. An LED18 is mounted upon the PCB disc and is directed backwards into thehollow cavity 12 such that when energised the internal surface of thehollow cavity 12 is illuminated by the LED. As the body 11 istranslucent, this light will cause the body to glow. The LED 18 istypically a high-efficiency type.

A pair of button cell batteries 19 is located within the batterycompartment 17. These would typically be 1.5 Volt batteries whichconnected in series provides a 3 Volt source. The batteries 19 arelocated loosely within the battery compartment 17 and are biased forwardby a battery spring 21 into contact with a contact terminal 22. Thebattery spring 21 is electrically conductive and connects the batteries19 to a contact point on the printed circuit board 20. The contactterminal 22 is connected by a wire 23 or other electrical conduit (suchas a track formed upon an outer surface of the battery compartment) tothe PCB 20.

The PCB 20 includes a timing circuit designed to provide power from thebatteries 19 to the LED for a finite duration such as one or twoseconds. This duration commences upon closing the electrical circuitdescribed above and after which the PCB goes into “standby mode” inwhich only minimal current is drawn from the batteries.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E, the batteries 19 move under their owninertia to break and make contact with the contact terminal 22 duringuse. Upon firing from a toy gun, the projectile 10 accelerates rapidlyforward as indicated by the large arrow in FIG. 4B. The batteries 19move backward relative to the battery compartment 17 as shown by thesmall arrow in FIG. 4B so that they break contact with contact terminal22. Shortly thereafter the battery spring 21 pushes the batteries 19 andforwarded as shown in FIG. 4C. Contact is then made with the contactterminal 22 is shown in FIG. 4D whereupon the LED 18 illuminates. Thetimer upon PCB 20 maintains illumination of the LED 18 for a finiteperiod as indicated in FIG. 4E.

An alternative arrangement within the battery compartment 17 is shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B. Rather than relying upon the making and breaking of thecircuit at contact terminal 22, a contact pin 24 can extend from the PCB20 to make momentary electrical contact with the batteries 19 to startthe timer. Moreover, the contact terminal 22 is provided with a terminalspring 25 so that terminal 22 always maintains electrical contact withbatteries 19 including when they move within the battery compartment.Alternatively, a flexible wire or metallic ribbon could be permanentlysoldered, welded or otherwise connected to the battery. That is, the PCB20 always sees a closed circuit through the batteries. The contact pin24 is located centrally of the battery spring 21. Upon rapidacceleration of the projectile 10 from a toy gun, the batteries 19 moverelative to the battery compartment as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5Bto engage the contact pin 24. The timing circuit then conveys currentfrom the batteries to the LED 18 for a finite period set at say one ortwo seconds.

In FIGS. 6 to 7C of the accompanying drawings there is depicted analternative projectile 100. The projectile comprises a soft foam body110 with a bulbous tip having a lighting cavity 140 therein. Behind thisis a tubular cavity 120 which extends to the tail end of the projectile.Ahead of the tubular cavity there is an LED 18 pointing forward into thelighting cavity 140 to illuminate the body 110 from within. The LED 18is mounted to a circuit board 20 upon which there is a micro processorincluding timing circuitry similar to that described above withreference to the preceding embodiments. A microswitch 130 is mountedupon the circuit board and extends backward into the tubular cavity 120.The microswitch 130 is typically of momentary contact type and wouldtypically be of push-OFF configuration (i.e. when the microswitch isdepressed, it provides an open circuit).

Within the toy gun there would be provided a part 150 which in theexemplified embodiment comprises an air nozzle that extends into thetubular cavity 120 of the projectile 100. The air nozzle 150 has anumber of air holes 160 through which compressed air delivered throughthe nozzle 150 rapidly enters the tubular cavity 120 to affect firing ofthe projectile from the toy gun in use. Rather than relying uponcompressed air to fire the projectile, the part 150 might instead be afiring pin or pusher that moves forward rapidly against the microswitch130 to fire the projectile 100. The air nozzle (or firing pin) 150 has aleading face 180 that bears against the mechanical microswitch 130 whena projectile 100 is loaded into the toy gun. When air is deliveredrapidly through the nozzle 150, the projectile 100 moves away and so themicroswitch 130 disengages from the leading face 180 to trigger thetiming circuit to provide power to the LED for a finite period of time—aperiod which would correspond to a typical trajectory duration.

A further alternative is depicted in FIGS. 8 to 9D. In this embodimentthe projectile 200 is similar in construction to the embodiment depictedin FIG. 1 comprises a head 13 having a suction cup 14 and a soft foambody 11 with a tubular cavity 12. An LED 18 points backwards into thecavity 12 and is powered by a battery 19. A PCB 20 has timing circuitrysimilar to that described previously. In this embodiment however, thereis provided a magnetic sensor (Hall Effect) switch 230 which mighttypically comprise a moving ferrous circuit-making/breaking part orother known magnetic field sensing device. Flanking the gun barrel 170of the toy gun is a pair of permanent magnets 240 providing a magneticfield across the gun barrel as indicated by the arrows extending betweenthe magnets. At the back of the gun barrel, there is an air nozzle orfiring pin 150 (or other apparatus) to affect forward motion of theprojectile 200. As the projectile moves through the magnetic field, themagnetic sensor switch 230 reacts to the magnetic field to trigger thetiming circuit so that current from the battery 19 is delivered to theLED for a finite duration.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious tothose skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope ofthe present invention. For example, and with reference to theembodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5B, the batteries might be fixed againstmovement within the battery compartment rendering springs 21 and 25unnecessary and a simple reed switch having a small mass calibrated toopen and close upon rapid acceleration of the projectile could beprovided. Furthermore, instead of a contact pin 24, a momentary contactmicroswitch could be mounted upon the PCB 20 to serve the same purpose.As a further example, and with reference to the embodiments of FIG. 8 to9D, rather than providing a pair of permanent magnets flanking the gunbarrel, a single magnet could be provided at one side of the barrelonly.

1. A toy projectile comprising: a body; a battery located within thebody; a light emitter; and a sensor adapted to trigger a provision ofelectrical energy from the battery to the light emitter uponacceleration of the projectile.
 2. The projectile of claim 1, whereinthe body is light-transmissive and wherein the light emitter is locatedinternally of the body and illuminates the body internally.
 3. Theprojectile of claim 2, wherein the body is of soft tubular form having ahollow cavity within which the light emitter is located.
 4. Theprojectile of claim 1, wherein the body is soft and has a hollow cavity,and further comprising a battery compartment located within the hollowcavity and housing the battery.
 5. The projectile of claim 4, whereinthe battery compartment comprises a PCB upon which the light emitter ismounted.
 6. The projectile of claim 5, wherein the PCB comprisespositive and negative electrical connections each connected to arespective pole of the battery to form a circuit therewith.
 7. Theprojectile of claim 6, wherein the battery compartment further comprisesa contact terminal connecting one pole of the battery to one of theelectrical connections of the PCB via a wire or other electricalconduit, and an electrically conductive spring connecting the other poleof the battery to the other electrical connection of the PCB.
 8. Theprojectile of claim 7, wherein said sensor adaptation is provided inthat the battery moves under its own inertia within the batterycompartment against the spring with which it maintains contact and inthat the contact terminal momentarily disengages from said one pole ofthe battery to momentarily open said circuit.
 9. The projectile of claim8, wherein the PCB comprises timing circuitry to provide power to thelight emitter for a finite duration and wherein said duration commencesupon closing of said momentarily open circuit.
 10. The projectile ofclaim 7, wherein the PCB comprises timing circuitry to provide power tothe light emitter for a finite duration and wherein said sensoradaptation is provided in that the battery moves within the batterycompartment under its own inertia against the spring and in that the PCBfurther comprises a contact pin with which the battery momentarilyengages to initiate said provision of power.
 11. The projectile of claim10, wherein the contact terminal is spring biased against said one poleof the battery so as not to electrically disengage therefrom.
 12. Theprojectile of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductivespring engaging the battery for conducting current from the battery tothe light emitter, and further comprising a contact terminal forcompleting a circuit between the battery and the light emitter, andwherein said sensor adaptation is provided in that the battery moves inuse under its own inertia against the spring with which it maintainselectrical contact and in that the contact terminal engages with anddisengages from the battery to make and break said circuit.
 13. Theprojectile of claim 1, further comprising a timing circuit, and anelectrically conductive spring engaging the battery for conductingcurrent from the battery to the light emitter for a duration set by thetiming circuit, the projectile further comprising a contact terminal,and wherein said sensor adaptation is provided in that the battery movesin use under its own inertia against the spring with which it maintainselectrical contact and in that the contact terminal engages with anddisengages from the battery to trigger the timing circuit.
 14. A toyprojectile for firing from a toy gun, comprising: a body; a batterylocated within the body; a light emitter; and a sensor adapted tocooperate with the toy gun to trigger a provision of electrical energyfrom the battery to the light emitter upon firing from the toy gun. 15.The projectile of claim 14, wherein the body is light-transmissive andwherein the light emitter is located internally of the body andilluminates the body internally.
 16. The projectile of claim 15, whereinthe body is of soft tubular form having a hollow cavity within which thelight emitter is located.
 17. The projectile of claim 14, wherein thebody is soft and has a hollow cavity, and further comprising a batterycompartment located within the hollow cavity and housing the battery.18. The projectile of claim 17, wherein the battery compartmentcomprises a PCB upon which the light emitter is mounted.
 19. Theprojectile of claim 18, wherein the PCB comprises positive and negativeelectrical connections each connected to a respective pole of thebattery to form a circuit therewith.
 20. The projectile of claim 19,wherein the battery compartment further comprises a contact terminalconnecting one pole of the battery to one of the electrical connectionsof the PCB via a wire or other electrical conduit, and an electricallyconductive spring connecting the other pole of the battery to the otherelectrical connection of the PCB.
 21. The projectile of claim 20,wherein said sensor adaptation is provided in that the battery movesunder its own inertia within the battery compartment against the springwith which it maintains contact and in that the contact terminalmomentarily disengages from said one pole of the battery to momentarilyopen said circuit.
 22. The projectile of claim 21, wherein the PCBcomprises timing circuitry to provide power to the light emitter for afinite duration and wherein said duration commences upon closing of saidmomentarily open circuit.
 23. The projectile of claim 20, wherein thePCB comprises timing circuitry to provide power to the light emitter fora finite duration and wherein said sensor adaptation is provided in thatthe battery moves within the battery compartment under its own inertiaagainst the spring and in that the PCB further comprises a contact pinwith which the battery momentarily engages to initiate said provision ofpower.
 24. The projectile of claim 23, wherein the contact terminal isspring biased against said one pole of the battery so as not toelectrically disengage therefrom.
 25. The projectile of claim 14,further comprising an electrically conductive spring engaging thebattery for conducting current from the battery to the light emitter,and further comprising a contact terminal for completing a circuitbetween the battery and the light emitter, and wherein said sensoradaptation is provided in that the battery moves in use under its owninertia against the spring with which it maintains electrical contactand in that the contact terminal engages with and disengages from thebattery to make and break said circuit.
 26. The projectile of claim 14,further comprising a timing circuit, and an electrically conductivespring engaging the battery for conducting current from the battery tothe light emitter for a duration set by the timing circuit, theprojectile further comprising a contact terminal, and wherein saidsensor adaptation is provided in that the battery moves in use under itsown inertia against the spring with which it maintains electricalcontact and in that the contact terminal engages with and disengagesfrom the battery to trigger the timing circuit.
 27. The projectile ofclaim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical switch that bearsagainst a part of the toy gun when the projectile is loaded in the toygun.
 28. The projectile of claim 27, wherein the mechanical switchcomprises a push-OFF microswitch adapted to release to an ON positionupon disengagement from said part.
 29. In combination with theprojectile of claim 27, a toy gun comprising said part engaging withsaid mechanical switch.
 30. The combination of claim 29, wherein saidpart comprises an air nozzle extending into the projectile.
 31. Theprojectile of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises an air pressureswitch configured to receive an air blast from the toy gun.
 32. Incombination with the projectile of claim 31, a toy gun comprising saidpart and in which said part comprises an air nozzle extending into theprojectile adjacent to the air pressure switch.
 33. The projectile ofclaim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic switch which passesthrough a magnetic field provided by the toy gun.
 34. In combinationwith the projectile of claim 33, a toy gun comprising a magnet creatinga magnetic field through which the projectile must pass when fired fromthe toy gun.